Ide Hill Reserves marched themselves into the final of the Sevenoaks Junior Charity Cup with an astounding 7-0 victory over local rivals St Lawrence Reserves on Saturday afternoon.
Ide Hill’s player-manager, Peter Dance-Harvey, made some bold squad choices ahead of this match-up, which saw them produce an all-round display whilst given them their most experienced, and strongest, benches to date.
Within the first minute of the match, Ide Hill demonstrated exactly what was asked of them by Dance-Harvey where they showed great work-rate, chasing every St Lawrence touch with tenacity.
This led to a string of chances and with the help of Jason Miles-Lomas’ long throw-ins, Dance-Harvey was first to score to give the home side the lead.
The intensity from Ide Hill showed no signs of slowing down, and shortly afterwards this culminated in a sublime shot into the top corner by Thomas Wilkens. Jordan Hounsell then hassled the St Lawrence back line, and after having a penalty shout turned down, he eventually got his reward with a well taken strike. 3-0 at halftime.
The second half saw the hosts step it up yet another gear with substitute Paul Scott getting swiftly off the mark with his first goal Scott then added further insult to injury by scoring another after more tired defending from the visitors.
Ide Hill then made some wholesale changes with veterans Nick Capon and James Cooke coming on alongside teenager Tyler Twyford, who immediately added pace and a goal. His cross surprising everyone including himself as it swung into the back of the net.
Miles-Lomas then produced some great work down the left to produce the icing on the cake for Hill as Scott secured his hatrick.
Ide Hill will now play Tatsfield Rovers in the final on Good Friday, after Rovers beat Roselands 2-1 in the other semi-final also held on Saturday.
The final will take place in the morning of April 19th at Sevenoaks Town’s 3G pitch at Greatness Park, where Ide Hill will be hoping for a double day out, as their first team face Farnborough OB Reserves this coming weekend in the Senior semi-final.
In other matches around the district, Sevenoaks Town needed a second half Frankie Sawyer strike to get a point at home to Ramsgate. The result puts Town in 11th place, just eight points off the drop-zone. Although the five teams below them are fighting amongst themselves, so it should see Town safe.
Corinthian FC fought off Fisher in the Southern Counties East Premier. The 1-0 win now puts Corinthian six points clear at the top of the championship that Sevenoaks Town won last season.
In the Kent County Premier Division, Sevenoaks District rivals Crockenhill and Otford United put on a great five-goal game with Otford running out 3-2 winners to consolidate their position in mid-table.
